Author Archive

When I began consulting, I always knew I would be helping companies solve HR problems. In fact, that was the reason I was there! What has surprised me the most is the number of retirement plan account problems I have encountered throughout my time with Helios. Administration of retirement...

In these times of working leaner and meaner, we find ourselves trying to figure out how to do more with less. We need our employees to be heavily engaged in the work they are doing for us to ensure they are as productive as possible. According to a Gallup...

There is so much in the news today about our culture in the United States. With the recent #MeToo campaign, in which people are indicating they have suffered sexual harassment or assault, to the troubles in Hollywood, people are growing tired of not being treated with respect and dignity....

Take a minute to imagine all of the different generations working together in today’s society…with so much diversity…from Traditionalists (born before 1946) to Generation Z (1997 – today) to employees from different cultures, religions, and the like. This begs the question, how can these employees work together and be...

I am often asked about my thoughts on what kind of HR support a client needs, and what is best for a business “of my size”? And my answer is almost always the same…it depends. A lot must be considered when determining if the best HR solution for your...

As an outsourced HR consultant, I regularly work with small businesses in need of support in Human Resources. Often these businesses are either in a start-up mode or have a small footprint and need part-time, efficient support to move their businesses forward. That work can sometimes be tactical, and...

You have an exciting work environment…people are running around like crazy, lots of energy and enthusiasm all over the place, and everyone is having a great time…except for one employee who doesn’t “get into that”. This employee is sitting at the desk, quietly doing his/her work. And you notice...

As a consultant, I often go to organizations and provide advice and counsel to leaders at varying levels in the organization. For a good number of clients, that advice is at the management level and higher, and I don’t have regular communication with non-supervisory employees. So while visiting a...

It’s that time of the year when most organizations begin thinking about their retirement plan responsibilities, whether it’s non-discrimination testing or preparing to file the Form 5500 with the IRS. This is usually a nerve-wracking time for employers, as there are often concerns about the outcome of the testing....

Compliance. This is an enormous topic and there is much to be considered when discussing it. There are compliance responsibilities around benefits, 401k plans, federal contracting, record retention, state and federal regulations…the list is endless. While the risk of not being in compliance can cost an organization hundreds of...

Have you ever found yourself in the following situation? You sit down with an employee (let’s call him Lou) to have a discussion about something…call it a deadline missed…and Lou’s reaction is completely different than you expected. Lou begins to argue and try to defend himself, and this isn’t...

I recently watched a movie on television called Coach Carter. In this true story, Samuel L. Jackson plays Coach Ken Carter, a well-groomed, highly respectful, professional basketball coach who steps into Richmond High School in California in 1999 to coach the high school team. Coach Carter finds the team...

In the scope of my work, I observe many leaders every month. I see great ideas executed flawlessly, and I see great ideas that don’t take off too well. When that happens, the leader and I often spend a great deal of time defining why the idea didn’t go...

According to a recent Gallup study, 71% of our workforce is probably not nearly as productive as they could be. The number of actively disengaged employees in the workplace outnumbered the number of actively engaged employees by nearly two to one. And in the North America, 29% are engaged,...

Throughout my travels to clients and other events, I do a lot of facilitating for Helios HR and the number one question I am asked is, “How much does it cost? “ My answer is always the same…”it depends.” Training programs are offered in many forms, and there...